It's been twenty years since the Northridge quake

On January 17, 1994, a 6.7-magnitude earthquake in Southern California killed 57 people

January 17, 2014 6:22 AM

Photo: Paul Harris, Getty Images

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Twenty years the magnitude temblor took the life of a motorcycle police officer on this section of freeway at 4.31am on January 17, 1994. The earthquake centered in the Northridge area of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley killed 57 people in total and caused $15 billion in damage.

Twenty years the magnitude temblor took the life of a motorcycle police officer on this section of freeway at 4.31am on January 17, 1994. The earthquake centered in the Northridge area of Los Angeles' San ... more

Photo: Paul Harris, Getty Images

Twenty years the magnitude temblor took the life of a motorcycle... Photo-5736793.77908 - SFGate

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Damage from the Northridge earthquake was wide-spread, including damage to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Damage from the Northridge earthquake was wide-spread, including damage to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

A storefront sustains damage after an earthquake January 17, 1994 near Los Angeles, CA. Measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale, the quake led to 57 deaths and $15 billion in damage. (Photo by Gilles Mingasson/Liaison) less

A storefront sustains damage after an earthquake January 17, 1994 near Los Angeles, CA. Measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale, the quake led to 57 deaths and $15 billion in damage. (Photo by Gilles ... more

Photo: Gilles Mingasson, Getty Images

A storefront sustains damage after an earthquake January 17, 1994... Photo-5736796.77908 - SFGate

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A collapsed section of a highway sits shortly after the earthquake.

A collapsed section of a highway sits shortly after the earthquake.

Photo: Gilles Mingasson, Getty Images

A collapsed section of a highway sits shortly after the earthquake. Photo-5736800.77908 - SFGate

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A broken water main causes a street to flood, compounding the problem caused by ruptured gas lines.

A broken water main causes a street to flood, compounding the problem caused by ruptured gas lines.

Photo: Gilles Mingasson, Getty Images

A broken water main causes a street to flood, compounding the... Photo-5736797.77908 - SFGate

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A collapsed section of a highway sits shortly after the earthquake.

A collapsed section of a highway sits shortly after the earthquake.

Photo: Gilles Mingasson, Getty Images

A collapsed section of a highway sits shortly after the earthquake. Photo-5736798.77908 - SFGate

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An unidentified family sits wrapped in blankets on the front lawn of their structurally unsound home.

An unidentified family sits wrapped in blankets on the front lawn of their structurally unsound home.

Photo: Gilles Mingasson, Getty Images

An unidentified family sits wrapped in blankets on the front lawn... Photo-5736794.77908 - SFGate

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Emergency personnel pull an injured street sweeper from the rubble of a collapsed parking structure shortly after an earthquake in Northridge.

Emergency personnel pull an injured street sweeper from the rubble of a collapsed parking structure shortly after an earthquake in Northridge.

Firefighters stand near a blazing building shortly after the earthquake near Los Angeles.

Firefighters stand near a blazing building shortly after the earthquake near Los Angeles.

Photo: Gilles Mingasson, Getty Images

Firefighters stand near a blazing building shortly after the... Photo-5736795.77908 - SFGate

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Because of damage to the freeways there was a dramatic rise in number of commuters using Metrolink light-rail system in week following the earthquake.

Because of damage to the freeways there was a dramatic rise in number of commuters using Metrolink light-rail system in week following the earthquake.

Photo: John Humble, Getty Images

Because of damage to the freeways there was a dramatic rise in... Photo-5736791.77908 - SFGate

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A crane lifts a truck from the Interstate 5 overpass where it was stranded for 2 days after the earthquake caused sections of highway to collapse.

A crane lifts a truck from the Interstate 5 overpass where it was stranded for 2 days after the earthquake caused sections of highway to collapse.

Photo: John Humble, Getty Images

A crane lifts a truck from the Interstate 5 overpass where it was... Photo-5736792.77908 - SFGate

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An apartment building on fire as a result of the Northridge earthquake in 1994.

An apartment building on fire as a result of the Northridge earthquake in 1994.

Photo: Visions Of America, Getty Images

An apartment building on fire as a result of the Northridge... Photo-5736788.77908 - SFGate

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A man bicycles through a flooded road caused by the Northridge earthquake in the greater Los Angeles.

A man bicycles through a flooded road caused by the Northridge earthquake in the greater Los Angeles.

Photo: David Hume Kennerly, Getty Images

A man bicycles through a flooded road caused by the Northridge... Photo-5736790.77908 - SFGate

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The damaged Kaiser Medical Building in the Northridge Reseda area.

The damaged Kaiser Medical Building in the Northridge Reseda area.

Photo: Visions Of America, Getty Images

The damaged Kaiser Medical Building in the Northridge Reseda area. Photo-5736787.77908 - SFGate

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A demolished building at Olympic Blvd after the Northridge earthquake in 1994

A demolished building at Olympic Blvd after the Northridge earthquake in 1994

Photo: Visions Of America, Getty Images

A demolished building at Olympic Blvd after the Northridge... Photo-5736785.77908 - SFGate

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The damaged Kaiser Medical Building in the Northridge Reseda area.

The damaged Kaiser Medical Building in the Northridge Reseda area.

Photo: Visions Of America, Getty Images

The damaged Kaiser Medical Building in the Northridge Reseda area. Photo-5736786.77908 - SFGate

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Two National Guard members in riot gear on the streets of Los Angeles after the earthquake of January 17, 1994

Two National Guard members in riot gear on the streets of Los Angeles after the earthquake of January 17, 1994

Photo: Visions Of America, Getty Images

Two National Guard members in riot gear on the streets of Los... Photo-5736781.77908 - SFGate

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Medical records strewn over the floor in a medical building in Los Angeles.

Medical records strewn over the floor in a medical building in Los Angeles.

Photo: Visions Of America, Getty Images

Medical records strewn over the floor in a medical building in Los... Photo-5736784.77908 - SFGate

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An enterprising young man selling t-shirts with a map of the quake after the 1994 earthquake.

An enterprising young man selling t-shirts with a map of the quake after the 1994 earthquake.

Photo: Visions Of America, Getty Images

An enterprising young man selling t-shirts with a map of the quake... Photo-5736782.77908 - SFGate

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A man carrying drinking water away from a relief station after the 1994 earthquake

A man carrying drinking water away from a relief station after the 1994 earthquake

Photo: Visions Of America, Getty Images

A man carrying drinking water away from a relief station after the... Photo-5736783.77908 - SFGate

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A Prudential Insurance car outside of an old apartment building in Santa Monica which was condemned after the Northridge earthquake.

A Prudential Insurance car outside of an old apartment building in Santa Monica which was condemned after the Northridge earthquake.

Photo: Visions Of America, Getty Images

A Prudential Insurance car outside of an old apartment building in... Photo-5736777.77908 - SFGate

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A home in Pacific Palisades partially fallen down a hill as a result of the Northridge earthquake.

A home in Pacific Palisades partially fallen down a hill as a result of the Northridge earthquake.

Photo: Visions Of America, Getty Images

A home in Pacific Palisades partially fallen down a hill as a... Photo-5736778.77908 - SFGate

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A Santa Monica apartment building destroyed by the earthquake.

A Santa Monica apartment building destroyed by the earthquake.

Photo: Visions Of America, Getty Images

A Santa Monica apartment building destroyed by the earthquake. Photo-5736779.77908 - SFGate

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An overpass that collapsed on Highway 10 in the Northridge/Reseda area at the epicenter of earthquake in 1994.

An overpass that collapsed on Highway 10 in the Northridge/Reseda area at the epicenter of earthquake in 1994.

Photo: Visions Of America, Getty Images

An overpass that collapsed on Highway 10 in the Northridge/Reseda... Photo-5736780.77908 - SFGate

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A resident takes a break from moving furniture from the Villa Saticoy apartments in Canoga Park as residents of the complex moved out of the condemned structure. Thousands of people were forced to move from apartments and homes which were condemned after Northridge earthquake. less

A resident takes a break from moving furniture from the Villa Saticoy apartments in Canoga Park as residents of the complex moved out of the condemned structure. Thousands of people were forced to move from ... more

Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY, Getty Images

A resident takes a break from moving furniture from the Villa... Photo-5736775.77908 - SFGate

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Displaced people during the Northridge earthquake in 1994.

Displaced people during the Northridge earthquake in 1994.

Photo: Visions Of America, Getty Images

Displaced people during the Northridge earthquake in 1994. Photo-5736776.77908 - SFGate

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U.S. President Bill Clinton waves to residents during a tour of earthquake stricken areas near Los Angeles.

U.S. President Bill Clinton waves to residents during a tour of earthquake stricken areas near Los Angeles.

Photo: PAUL J. RICHARDS, Getty Images

U.S. President Bill Clinton waves to residents during a tour of... Photo-5736789.77908 - SFGate